Julian Speroni is shaping up for the biggest season of his career. A successful campaign could see Crystal Palace stay in the Premier League, the ­goalkeeper rewarded with a new contract and the Argentine selected for the World Cup finals.

It’s safe to say the 34-year-old has his hands full. “I love this club,” said Speroni. “I feel like family. I would love to stay here for my career but in football you can never tell. You can be a hero, then you make two mistakes and they don’t want you.”

Speroni knows more than most about the tumultuous nature of football; since joining Palace in 2004, he has seen eight different managers, administration, relegation and promotion. Having come through such drama together, it’s little wonder there’s such a warm affinity with the club.

“If they come up with an offer, of course I have to consider it,” he said. “I love it here and would love to stay but you can never tell. If you’re not enjoying where you are, then it’s time to move on. But I am still enjoying it. I never planned to be here this long, but I am very happy it went this way.”

Speroni is thrilled that Palace are back in the big time. Not just because he’s up against the world’s best week in, week out but because he has a better chance of playing in the World Cup. Indeed, keeping Palace in the top flight is the perfect way to showcase his talent ahead of Brazil 2014.

“It is one of my dreams, to play for my country,” said Speroni, who ­represented Argentina at Under-20 and 21 level but never for the full national side. “In the Premier League I have more of a chance.”

It is thought that the Argentina national team sent a scout to run the rule over Speroni in Palace’s successful play-off semi-finals last season. If they deign to see him again, he could be on his way back to South America.

He added: “I’m hoping someone will have a look and consider it. Obviously, it is a dream for me to play at the World Cup.”

Given how positivity courses through Speroni, you believe anything is possible. Indeed, his main mission is to keep Palace in the Premier League.

It will not be easy, with many writing the club off even before consecutive defeats against Tottenham and Stoke. Speroni, however, remains characteristically upbeat.

“Teams like Southampton, Norwich and Swansea managed to come up from the Championship and stay there while playing good football,” he said. “They showed it is possible. We have a good team and play the same good football.

“In the Championship you can switch off for five minutes and get away with it. In the Premier League, you do the same and concede two or three goals. That’s the thing we need to learn quickly. But we have enough to stay up and do well.”

Sunderland are up next but, with just two games played, Speroni knows it is hardly ‘must-win’, despite Manchester United looming after the international break.

“Of course we want to win to get some points on the board but it’s a very long season,” he said. “Nothing gets decided in the first three matches.

“We’ve only played two games and the performances were great. We shouldn’t panic at all.”

There have been rumours of player unrest at Palace, with reports claiming some members of the dressing room wish Dougie Freedman was still in charge. Speroni, however, describes such stories as “nonsense”.

“We get on with each other very well,” he said. “We have no problems. This is one of the best squads we’ve had in years. It’s a lot of nonsense. I’m not just saying this. I’m being 100 per cent honest. If I say something it is because it’s true.”

It is this same bullish attitude that has made Speroni one of the most popular players at the club. After all, not many current players get a restaurant named after them. At Selhurst Park, however, fans can enjoy a meal at Speroni’s.

“The club told me they were opening this restaurant and they wanted to name it after me,” he said. “I thought they were joking. ‘This is not real’. But I was very happy. Very pleased.”